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Working with people is something that Lisa Scott, accuracy checking technician at Pharmacy+Health in Alwoodley, Leeds, has always wanted to do. Having worked in the care sector before making the move to community pharmacy, she says that pharmacy was different to what she expected it to be.

Finding her stride

“It was a transition I thought would be easier than it turned out to be,” she says. “There was so much to learn in pharmacy, and I wasn’t sure if I could do it. But, 15 years later, I’m still here and I love working in pharmacy.”

Lisa’s perseverance has seen her work in “pretty much every role there is” since she began working on the counter at Lloyds Pharmacy in Yeadon, near Leeds. Since then, she has continued pursuing new skills year after year, and is now celebrating her tenth anniversary in her current pharmacy.

“I’m an accuracy checking technician (ACT), but the role of an ACT at Pharmacy+Health is a little different from most pharmacies,” she tells me. “For one, I don’t spend all my time trapped in the dispensary – mostly I’m delivering services and supporting patients.

“When I first qualified as an ACT, I was so excited. But the reality of the role felt too repetitive. Instead of helping patients – which is why I wanted to work in pharmacy – I was labelling and bagging medication.
I found it quite boring if I’m honest and at one point I did consider leaving pharmacy and making the move to a hospital or primary care network.”

This feeling was short-lived, though. The pharmacy was bought by new owners, who decided to bring in HubRx automated dispensing. “By automating more, it freed up my time and meant I could spend it with patients and gaining new skills through training,” explains Lisa. “My role now is really varied and I get to do a bit of everything.”

A varied role

Lisa still spends some of her time in the dispensary as an accuracy checker, but she also delivers clinical services. “A year ago, I passed my phlebotomy training. Now I lead the blood testing service in my branch. I love it,” she says.

“Every week, I carry out blood tests and help educate patients who may benefit from the tests. Our female hormone tests are especially popular and patients who come in with an iron prescription are always interested to find out how the tests could help.

“Blood testing is something I’m really passionate about. The service feels like it’s my baby!”

The service has proved to be hugely popular and is already growing, notes Lisa, just like another service she is involved with in the pharmacy: the weight management service. Through this service, Lisa says her patients’ transformations each month are “incredible” – and they don’t just involve physical weight loss. “Patients use the service when they are unhappy with themselves, want to become healthier, and because they need to lose weight so they can have surgery,” Lisa says.

“It’s always about the patient, supporting them and helping them get to where they want to be in a safe, effective way. We’ve seen such a transformation – physically and mentally. It’s rewarding to have some people who were previously pre-diabetes turn their health completely around.”